Getting started-need suggestions

[JohnR]

First. You ain't nuthin if you can't X-Ray other people's secret intellectual property so see Numby

Second, Ross's Shopsmith might not be a bad start ??

Third, apply more to it than i have. My first plug is awesome but it is still under construction

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by JohnR

First. You ain't nuthin if you can't X-Ray other people's secret intellectual property so see Numby

In the coming months I plan on feigning a number of broken bone injuries...hopefully I don't die from radiation exposure..

[numbskull]

You know, being a rebel guy and all you might want to look into balsa wood handcarves. It is not very tool intensive (a coping saw, small gouge (or dremel), some glue, clamps, sandpaper, and a small rasp or microplane will get you started) and the guys who get skilled at it can turn out some very impressive stuff (think Rapala and Bagleys). Check out the SOL thread from Finland, and Tackle Undergrounds site on plug building. Would also let you build freshwater stuff (where eels are a disadvantage) and fool around with swimbaits.

You start with flat stock 1/2 the width of your plug, trace and cut out your shape twice (one for each 1/2), gouge a wire and weight and hook hanger hole, bend and place your wire and weight, glue together, then shape with the rasp, seal with proprionate (disolved plastic), foil, paint, seal again, glue in a lip, and give it to me.

Have a try. I'll let you know how you are doing.

[Tagger]

Here's another way to go ...Husky from TU site sent me a foam plug you could hit with a hammer .. Forget about moisture meters and Hydro Shmydro .. Always wanted to try this .. handcarve a proto ,,,make a mold (silicone /plaster).. lay your thru wire/weighting in and mix and pour in your foam . Make a bunch playing with the weighting .. After you get what you like .. make a bunch exactly the same .. no wood issuses ... handcarve proto is inexpensive to get into .. Spoke shave ,,, jigg,, vice ,, sand paper .. You use the 16lb. foam Mike ... might be right up your alley..

Urethane Foam , Expanding Marine Polyurethane Foam

[Back Beach]

I actually saw some cowboy knock offs made from pvc somewhere. Not sure how they work, but I thought it was a good idea.

Why are you guys trying to steer me away from wood? You afraid I'll drive the price of lumber too high and you'll have to resort to eels?

[chefchris401]

those cowboys you saw are mine. they're laminated pvc and turned on a lathe.

forget about sealing and epoxies. just shape and paint.

i do epoxy the ones i plan on trading or whatever, but its just to protect the paint. all my best plugs are white, yellow or blank anyway.

the hardest part is figuring out the laminating process......im not telling my secrets.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by chefchris401

the hardest part is figuring out the laminating process......im not telling my secrets.

Tell us your secrets ,, we tell ours .. pvc is heavy no ? those cowboys ended up about 4.25 ounces.. that struck me as heavy when i saw them .although they looked identical ..

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by chefchris401

the hardest part is figuring out the laminating process......im not telling my secrets.

I'm not big on secrets. Does PVC cement not work?

[StriperSniper]

Originally Posted by Tagger

Here's another way to go ...Husky from TU site sent me a foam plug you could hit with a hammer .. Forget about moisture meters and Hydro Shmydro .. Always wanted to try this .. handcarve a proto ,,,make a mold (silicone /plaster).. lay your thru wire/weighting in and mix and pour in your foam . Make a bunch playing with the weighting .. After you get what you like .. make a bunch exactly the same .. no wood issuses ... handcarve proto is inexpensive to get into .. Spoke shave ,,, jigg,, vice ,, sand paper .. You use the 16lb. foam Mike ... might be right up your alley..

Urethane Foam , Expanding Marine Polyurethane Foam

I have tried the foam,it works well.
PVC rod works well but the dust and dioxin created when working with it is enough for me to stay away from using it.
The top secret laminating process has been around a while,1925 to be exact...good idea for curtain rods but as with all laminates it's only as good as the substrate used and in time will fail.Same principal as shrink wrap except chemicals are used to soften the material as opposed to heat.
Alumilite makes a product called super plastic and although i haven't tried it yet no question i will break down and buy some.
Here is a link to a video

In the end i have tried everything from delrin to phenolic material and always go back to wood